BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 44
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 3, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   SB 44 (Yee) - As Introduced:  December 12, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              ElectionsVote:5-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the homepage of every state agency website to  
          include a link to the Secretary of State's (SOS's) online voter  
          registration page (  www.registertovote.ca.gov  ). 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor absorbable one-time costs for every agency to add the  
          hyperlink to its homepage.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background  . SB 397 (Yee)/Chapter 561 of 2011, authorized the  
            SOS, in conjunction with the DMV, to implement online voter  
            registration prior to the completion of a new statewide voter  
            registration database. This program, developed in coordination  
            with county elections officials, went live on September 19,  
            2012 and provided for voter registration through the SOS's  
            website. Nearly 800,000 people took advantage of this option  
            prior to the November 2012 General Election.

           2)Purpose  . According to the author, "SB 44 will increase  
            opportunities for Californians to register or re-register to  
            vote and increase voter participation.  Having a voter  
            registration link on every state website will promote the  
            system, and provide access to anyone seeking information or  
            services from the state, especially to some who might  
            otherwise be unaware of the online option."

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 










                                                                  SB 44
                                                                  Page  2